Starting as a web novel, “Jobless Reincarnation” then found its printed form, before becoming a manga, an audio drama, a video game and an animation. What makes the anime truly unique, however, is its genre mashup and overall approach, which could be described as ‘barely legal'.
Watch This Title
on Amazon
An unnamed, obese, 34-year-old Japanese NEET is evicted from his home following his parents' death and skipping the funeral. Even worse for him, he dies in an accident as he was trying to do a good deed for once in his life. Instead of perishing, however, he finds himself awaking in a baby's body, in a completely different world of sword and sorcery, and resolves to become successful in his new life, discarding his past identity for his new life as Rudeus Greyrat. As his intelligence and memories remain intact however, he is anything but a regular baby, exhibiting an incredible affinity for training, particularly in magic, but at the same time, a perversion in the way he looks at the women around the house, including his newfound mother. His rather sexually active parents and the sultry maid of the house do not help in that regard, but Rudeus also finds himself connected with demon magician Roxy Migurdia, his teacher in magic. Eventually, he also finds out that his father is not exactly a paragon of innocence, just before he is sent to his cousin's manor, in order to teach a true wildling, noble heiress Eris Boreas Greyrat. Gradually, and with a lot of pain, Rudeus manages to get under her skin, but a disaster that comes in the most unexpected moment, sends the two of them into a faraway place. In the meantime, his previous self keeps meeting with a mysterious persona in a continuum of some sorts, who seems to be the one responsible for his reincarnation.
Manabu Okamoto directs a title that combines a number of shonen-favorite aspects. The ecchi one is one of the most evident, with the series including a number of rather sensual female characters, who frequently indulge in sex, which is, however, more heard that actual witnessed. Kazutaka Sugiyama's character design also intensifies this aspect, with the women in the anime truly standing out, both for their sensuality and their diversity in appearance. The presence of sex in general, is a rather unique element, since anime titles, in their overwhelming majority, make an effort to stray as far away from it if possible, even if the fan-service elements are quite dominant usually. Regarding the barely legal aspect I mentioned, it is not only that a horny 34-year-old is inside the body of what ends up being as the most perverted baby of all time, but also that the sexual notions between underage kids essentially are all over the place, in an approach that may be funny on occasion, but also borders on the offensive, also because it is occasionally accompanied by intense violence.
Apart from that, the action rpg elements are also here, with the two protagonists becoming better the more they practice, while meeting more and more powerful foes and friends. The bounty hunting aspect and the recruitment of members for their clan move in the same path, while the overall action follows the rules of the RPG, with magic, swords, giant creatures and dangerous, cool-looking foes. The animation by Studio Bind finds its apogee here, in a style that is not exactly extravagant, but works quite well nevertheless, with the overall violence that occasionally floods the screen being quite fitting to the overall aesthetics. Also of note is the fact that the story changes locations and settings a number of times, with the quality remaining the same.
Apart from the strictly entertaining aspects, the series is also filled with context. The backstory of the protagonist and the bullying it includes adds a rather dramatic aspect to the series, as much as the shenanigans of his father, whose complicated relationship with his son also induces a family drama element to the narrative. Furthermore, the coming-of-age element is also intense, even if moving in the aforementioned, sex-focused paths, while the story also comments on racism, friendship and companionship, mentorship, and the impact of the past to the future.
“Jobless Reincarnation” seemingly addresses young boys, but beneath the surface, there is much context and intricacy in the messages here that will also satisfy more mature fans, who look for something more than male-oriented entertainment.
